Expected life for a scanner?

[taffer]

Hi there,

as it happens with camera shutters, do transparency (or flatbed) scanners have an expected life, or just like computers they will stop working suddenly when you need them most ? 🙂

I'm asking that because I've heard and read here stories of dying cameras, computers, printers and even developer, but none (yet) of a scanner.

TIA

 

[cp_ste.croix]

Great question! I also would like to hear others weigh in on this...

 

[Nikon Bob]

I don't know if there is a "life expectancy" for any of the devices you mentioned. I have had to take back a cheap flatbed scanner that was almost new for not working right. It was replaced by the same model which worked well until stolen a year later. From my experience i would think that any of the devices would show flaws immediately and when they do fail later. they do so unexpectedly and possibly with no warning signs. With electronics you pay your money and take your chances. On the up side I have had very little trouble, touch wood, with any of the devices you mentioned.

Bob

 

[Poptart]

I think it depends on what you feed them.

 

[CleverName]

I'm interested in this question too. My Canoscan is about 5 years old and recently developed weird problems. Sometimes works fine, sometimes doesn't. I've tried all the software related fixes I can think of, but I still have problems.
I'd like to get a newer, better scanner, but I can't justify it until this one's dead.

(please note: this is a big hint. I need a computer expert to say, "Scanners last about 5 years. You should buy a newer, better one now.")

 

[T_om]

I'm interested in this question too. My Canoscan is about 5 years old and recently developed weird problems. Sometimes works fine, sometimes doesn't. I've tried all the software related fixes I can think of, but I still have problems.
I'd like to get a newer, better scanner, but I can't justify it until this one's dead.

(please note: this is a big hint. I need a computer expert to say, "Scanners last about 5 years. You should buy a newer, better one now.")

Nah, just take your scanner and your .45 out in the yard and put the thing out of its misery.

Tom

 

[taffer]

Thanks for the answers guys, what worries a bit on mine is that it's developing some haze on the inner side of the glass :bang: and this one clearly isn't designed to offer a simple way of putting it apart for cleaning. I guess it's around 2-3 years old.

 

[Bryan Lee]

One thing I noticed on my old flatbed was something under the glass. I never noticed it until I was looking at the scan in progress with the light on and it plainly had a white milky fungus growing on the underside of the glass.

 

[dmr]

At work we consider scanners (flatbed) to be almost a disposable commodity. It seems like they seldom break down before they become obsolete, but when they do, it's always been cheaper to just go out and get a new (and better one) than to take the time and effort to get it fixed.

We've got a couple HP scanners at work that are a few years old and still going strong that give flawless scans.

For the new negative scanner (K-M Scan Dual IV) I expect it to last for a couple years, but will probably be obsolete before it quits working. My guess is that to get something like that serviced, it would cost a good percentage of the cost of a new (and more current) one.

 

[skipc]

It seems like they seldom break down before they become obsolete

The most likely scenario. Either the scanner is technologically obsolete, or the current OS will not support it...skip

 

[laptoprob]

Everything older than 5, max. 10 years should be replaced with something made of more plastic than the generation of products before.
That's the way this world works, right?
I am therefore completely out of sync. I like old glass, dislike plastic in mechanical equipment etc. My scanner is a Minolta Dual Scan before the time of counting versions.

I am a dinosaur and love it!

Rob.

 

[peterc]

I am a dinosaur and love it!

I just bought a new Dimage Scan Elite ... don't think they've made them for a few years.

Peter

 

[ed1k]

I just bought a new Dimage Scan Elite ... don't think they've made them for a few years.

Peter

Wow! Congratulations! I just decided to search for KM Dimage Dual IV... and Vistek doesn't have it anymore (they had for $399CAD)... There is Dual IV on sale in BestBuy, but in USA ($250USD) and they don't ship to Canada; BestBuy Canada doesn't sell film scanners... shopkonicaminolta.com sells Dual IV for $299USD and with shipping it's almost what it was in Vistek.ca 🙂 Maybe next year then.
Eduard.

 

[peterc]

but none (yet) of a scanner.

My Nikon LS-2000 died. Stepper motor went. Repair would have been more than replacement.

Peter

 

[ed1k]

Oh well, and few words about subj.
I have two not working HP flatbeds, got them for free thinking to build one (but actually never had time to play with it, probably now it's time to put them on street for garbage collectors). One is pretty old model and looks brand new - there is no haze on glass. But it has fried electronics, USB port is dead. I think this kind of defect shows up in first few days. Second one has wear out mechanics. Cheap plastic wears out quite fast. My cheap HP 4400 which I bought refurbished at factorydirect.ca works pretty well for couple of years already. I do not use it for scaning film, of course.
Bottom line is, if you have perfect mechanical design (very rare for nowadays) you should check life cycle of lamp used. This piece has limited resource and worse it can die slowly. I.e. it won't illuminate as it did originally and electronics will increase gain to get a scan. As a result, you will have more noise. And if it easy to tell that lamp is dead with notebook (you just see dark image on pannel and can't adjust it), it's not so easy with scanner. Though if it's rarely used home scanner, it usualy works until it's obsolete (slow and resolution is as a joke).
Eduard.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Nah, just take your scanner and your .45 out in the yard and put the thing out of its misery.

Yeeeeeehhhhhaaaaa! Oh, wait...that's illegal, at least in this state, to discharge a firearm within city limits, unless, of course, the scanner were assaulting me...

 

[taffer]

Thanks all for the responses, Eduard the story about lamps is a bit scary, mainly because when one checks the scanner (3170 in my case) it's pretty clear that it wasn't built thinking on an easy way to service it or replace pieces.

Of course most of them just become obsolete before that service is needed...

 

[mac_wt]

I have bought 4 flatbed scanners in the last 15 years (3x Agfa, 1x Epson). All of them are still functional, but two of them have a SCSI interface and have no current (mac OSX) drivers anymore. My current scanner has a transparancy unit. For the other three I have found loving homes, but I'm affraid that one of them will be returning to me soon. I don't want to throw it away, as it is not broken, but it sure is obsolete.

Wim

 

[JoeFriday]

I've personally replaced a few lamps in flatbed scanners.. but that was about 10 years ago.. they seem to be better made now than in the past.. or maybe it's just that I stopped leaving the scanner on 24/7.. LOL

ed1k makes a good point.. usually the lamp's luminosity (wow, I never thought I'd use that word) diminishes before the scanner develops mechanical issues.. of course, the same is true of automotive headlights.. how many people notice their headlight bulbs are half as bright after a couple years of use.. I'm probably the only guy in Wisconsin who replaces his headlight bulbs every year

 

[SalmanA]

Wow! Congratulations! I just decided to search for KM Dimage Dual IV... and Vistek doesn't have it anymore (they had for $399CAD)... There is Dual IV on sale in BestBuy, but in USA ($250USD) and they don't ship to Canada; BestBuy Canada doesn't sell film scanners... shopkonicaminolta.com sells Dual IV for $299USD and with shipping it's almost what it was in Vistek.ca 🙂 Maybe next year then.
Eduard.

Aden Camera (in Toronto) still has them listed on their website for C$399.00:

http://www.adencamera.com/prod-overview.asp?ProdID=804&Category=26

Don't know if they still have them in stock, and I have never dealt with Aden Camera so YMMV.